Shloka 13

Mantri-Parīkṣā — Testing Ministers, Securing Counsel, and Ethical Criteria for Advisers (अध्याय ८४)

Devanagari script

श्रेयसो लक्षणं चैतद्‌ विक्रमो यस्य दृश्यते । कीर्तिप्रधानो यश्व स्थात्‌ समये यश्न तिषछति

Transliteration

śreyaso lakṣaṇaṃ caitad vikramo yasya dṛśyate | kīrtipradhāno yaśasvī syāt samaye yaś na tiṣṭhati ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“真正卓越的标志在此：其人勇武可见，生平以追求光明的名誉为先；当关键时刻来临，也不舍弃自己正当的声名。”

Word by Word

• श्रेयसः: of the good / of welfare
• श्रेयसः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेयस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• लक्षणम्: mark, characteristic
• लक्षणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• विक्रमः: valor, prowess
• विक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Adhikarana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• दृश्यते: is seen / is visible
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Present, Atmanepada, Third, Singular, Passive/Impersonal (lakara: Lat)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Bhishma defines true excellence as visible courage joined with steadfast commitment to honorable reputation—especially the ability to stand firm when the decisive moment comes.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Shanti Parva, Bhishma is instructing the king on ethical and practical standards for judging people; here he highlights valor and steadfast honor as key signs of a worthy person (fit for responsibility and counsel).